L I F E . . .

Good afternoon to you! Each day as I start my work shift, my coworkers and I meet with our boss in the office to go over the plan for the night. I am sure this is not an unusual fete for employees across America, so with that being said, it does not make our small group of  6 seem outrageously different than most. However, there are days when you just feel compelled to skip the meeting and get on with the same old drudgery and carry out your shift as quietly as possible. Go unnoticed, fade into the woodwork. Become that inconspicuous fairy that comes in each night and brightens up, cleans up, makes it all appear presentable by waving that invisible wand that seems to be the extension at the end of our wrist. Most nights one could have these feelings. Maybe that is one of the reasons we enjoy working  in singles rather than in a group. But there is something to be said for those meetings at the beginning of our shift. You see, it doesn't matter what our mood is when we first arrive to the workplace. Most of us greet each other with some sort of salutation when entering the room (i.e. what's up?, how's it goin'?, what did you do today?, etc. etc) and sometimes, with a smile on our face - not always. One person, no matter what his day was prior to entering our office area, is key man for all the crew. Does he know this? Probably not. Does he realize the impact he makes on each person he encounters daily? I don't think he does.

This man is the whole reason for today's blog, and funny as it may be, he will never see this, never read it for himself. But that's ok in my book, because he is a man that walks through life doing good in everything he touches. He is one of the good men all women talk about meeting one day and sharing a lifetime with. Oh, don't get me wrong, several of our crew members have expressed our feelings to him over the years and he just smiles and gets all embarrassed and then utters a quiet "thank you" as he cocks his head in his funny little customary dance that only he can do. Yes, he is one of the good guys, has been and always will be. It's how he lives his life in and out of the workplace. Every day when he opens that office door he enters with "Helloooo" as only he can say it and each and every one of us reply back with a "Hello!" It is what we love to hear and miss on the rare occasion he takes a day off from work.

We thank him for being a part of our crew. We love him and he knows it. How many of you in the workplace share feelings like this for a co worker? How many of you are not afraid to tell them you appreciate them and their work service? How many of you still feel compelled to share kind words and compliments without fear of the words sexual harassment being mentioned for such a act of kindness, appreciation and caring? I do not worry about such things. I live by the rule that each and every one of us still enjoy hearing a word of kindness and appreciation throughout our day. It is the unexpected words of kindness and appreciation, however small it may be, that mean the utmost to our psyche.

I will end with these words. How many people do you know who walk through life with a song in their heart and a smile on their face? I know a few, he is one of them. It is an honor to work with such a man. It is an honor to know him.

Live not in fear! Spread words of kindness! Give simple compliments! Make someone smile!